Slow Simmered White Bean and Ham Soup

by Pam on December 15, 2013

This is one of our favorite soups in my home. My son and husband absolutely love it and so do my daughter and I. I have a quick and easy version of this soup here but when I have time, I make this slow simmered version. It just tastes so comforting, flavorful, and delicious. I soak the beans overnight (or do a quick soak) then simmer it all afternoon long with veggies and a ham hock. By the end of the day, the soup is creamy, smoky, thick, and hearty. I serve it with my House Salad and freshly baked biscuits. This soup is always a hit in my home and the leftovers are fantastic.

Overnight Soak: Rinse and sort the beans. Add 6-8 cups of cold water to 1 pound of dried beans. Let stand overnight or at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse the beans. Side Note: If you don’t have time to do an overnight soak, try the quick soak method: Rinse and sort the beans. Add 6-8 cups of water to 1 pound of dried beans. Bring water to a boil, boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse the beans.

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, & celery. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds before adding stock, drained white beans, ham hock, bay leaf, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Cover and cook over low heat for at least 3 1/2-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Slowly break up the ham from the bone a little every time you stir the soup then remove any fat or bone from the ham hock along the way.

Remove the lid from the pan for 30 minutes prior to serving, making sure all fat and bone have been remove from the soup. Taste and re-season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Remove the bay leaf and ladle into bowls. Serve with salad and bread if desired. Enjoy.

A BIG THANK YOU!!

I received a gift package yesterday from The Pampered Chef and couldn’t wait to see all of the new products they sent to me. While oohing and ahhing over my new gadgets, my daughter said, “They sure know how to pamper a chef”. I couldn’t have said it any better. Thank you Pampered Chef!

Directions:

Overnight Soak: Rinse and sort the beans. Add 6-8 cups of cold water to 1 pound of dried beans. Let stand overnight or at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse the beans. Side Note: If you don’t have time to do an overnight soak, try the quick soak method: Rinse and sort the beans. Add 6-8 cups of water to 1 pound of dried beans. Bring water to a boil, boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse the beans.

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, & celery. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds before adding stock, drained white beans, ham hock, bay leaf, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Cover and cook over low heat for at least 3 1/2-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Slowly break up the ham from the bone a little every time you stir the soup then remove any fat or bone from the ham hock along the way.

Remove the lid from the pan for 30 minutes prior to serving, making sure all fat and bone have been remove from the soup. Taste and re-season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Remove the bay leaf and ladle into bowls. Serve with salad and bread if desired. Enjoy.

Copied to my recipe database and can’t wait to try on the next cold day. This looks absofreakingtastic. As a teen I had a thing for Campbell’s bean and bacon soup, this should open some great food memories.

I love a good navy bean soup! Your recipe looks so delicious, Pam! I think my New Year’s resolution is going to be cooking a For The Love Of Cooking blog recipe every day until I catch up on everything I’ve missed! And then I will need to go on a diet from eating all of the deliciousness!

Excellent Soup. Pretty similar to bean soup parents made but this is more creamy (like i like it). Perfect soup for tonight when the high was 5 and the low is going to be -15 (-40 wind chill). I cooked the beans on low for 4-1/2 hours which for me was perfect. I love my beans really creamy. IT warmed up my whole body

We loved this soup. I didn’t have ham so I cooked bacon and then put in the beans and stock. Absolutely delicious. Everyone loved it and since winter seems to be going on forever here in Ontario, it is a perfect cold day meal. No vcant wait to make it again.